Help !! Need Mount advise for AR152

I'm still looking over mount choices for this long heavy beast, one dealer likes a mount , one hates it.. I'll tell you what I'm looking for, goto mount with the ability to extent the height, so I wont hit the tripod at zenith. I was considering the iEQ45-AZ & Atlas Pro AZ/EQ. I like the AZ option, does someone have a solution.

I mount my AR152 on a Vixen Sphinx SXW, using a Vixen half-pillar, all on a Vixen HAL130 tripod. It is a spendy set up, however I was able to get a good deal on the mount, and I found the half-pillar used for a good price.

If your using the Ar152 with a cge and your don't have to add a extension and it does not hit the mount at zenith, then I guess my best bet for now and the future is the CGEM. The CGEM has more load capacity and that fits fine into my plans..

Interestingly enough, I've not had the chance to put the 152 on my Atlas yet. The scope is my wife's and she uses it visually on an Advanced VX. It's pushing that mount's limits, but does fine. It doesn't need an extension on the VX, but I can't say for certain that would be the case for the Atlas.

In the past few months, I've owned two CGEMs. The first was a rat's nest of troubles, and the second was only marginally better. I wouldn't be the best person to speak about the virtues of a CGEM.

I traded the second one in on my Atlas, and am still shaking-out the software, etc., as well as getting ready to record a PEC curve to load via EQMOD.

The problem is the weather patterns we seem to be stuck in along the SoCal coastal area. Clear all day long, then the high, thin clouds start rolling in for the evening. It's maddening.

Well, I like the AZ option and the fact the mount can take LM & Vx plates seamlessly, I'm not into AP yet, but it’s on the list. Just use my scopes for visual for the moment. The LX200 which is my primary scope, sort of makes it to easy, I want to learn more about EQ setup and not always depend on the computer... Did you think it’s any benefit getting the GPS unit for the Atlas?

I think the AZ option is a great feature for those who need it, but personally I don't. If the mount were optioned with and without, I would have chosen the latter, but the flexibility is not to be denied.

As for GPS, I just use an iPhone app for the location to enter into EQMOD. If I'm in an area with no cell service, I have an old Garmin handheld unit that'll do. I don't know how much it costs, but that's something you'll need to decide.

You'd benefit from reading both manuals a couple of times before setting up; one for the hand controller, the other for the mount. Become familiar with the terminology, etc. Even then, it'll take a couple of set-ups before you feel comfortable. We've all been there.